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Dawn
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We are really enjoying our nature study around here and Cay's Fiesta got me thinking about biographies (something we don't read nearly enough of).
I thought I would tap into the boys' (and my) enthusiasm for nature and explore some biographies of well known and perhaps not so well known naturalists. Rachel Carson and John Audubon immediately leapt to mind, but I had to do some investigating to think of more.
There are a few books I found on Amazon; can anyone comment on these?
John Muir: America's Naturalist
The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon
The Flower Hunter: William Bartram, America's First Naturalist
John Muir: My Life with Nature
I'd appreciate any other suggestions too! 
Also, is there a website or a book that talks in general about what it means to be (and/or how to be) a naturalist?
(MacBeth, if you read this ~ when I introduced this idea to my boys, I told them I knew a real-life naturalist (you!) and they were so excited!  )
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Dawn, mum to 3 boys 
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
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Elizabeth
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Pond Watching with Ann Morgan
Wildlife Watching with Charles Eastman
Bird Watching with Margaret Morse Nice
Girls Who Looked Under Rocks
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Cay Gibson
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Rachel: The Story of Rachel Carson by Amy Ehrlich
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
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lapazfarm
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Beloved Botanist is about Carl Linneaus and very readable (This man had an amazing life-my hero!).
This one is on the "to read" list for my ds :
A Mind With Wings and is about Henry David Thoreau.
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marihalojen
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The Amateur Naturalist is on my summer reading list, looks great, very excited and my library has it! 
Into the Woods: John James Audubon Lives His Dream is about you-know-who. We are flooded with his stuff down here, even the hospital just opened an art gallery with his paintings, I need to go and see them still...but because of that flooding the libraries are loaded with goodies of his, great big coffee table books that are bigger than my only table! This one is much more managable. Lovely for your children.
I like reading Wendell Berry's poems out loud to dh and dd as they paddle the canoe or row the dinghy about, I think he could be considered a modern Thoreau.
Flat Rock Journal: A Day in the Ozark Mountains by Ken Carey is a fabulous book for you* to read, man takes a ritual walk on his property every year observing the spring and reflecting on his life.
*Good read-aloud portions but also some flashbacks to Berkeley in the 60's. I sure wasn't there, but it sounds like it was a pretty groovy time!
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Rebecca
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We love "The Boy who Drew Birds" , Dawn!
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Dawn
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Thank you everyone for the ideas! I will be checking my library this weekend.
I remembered a wonderful catalog I get called Acorn Naturalists. There is a whole section devoted to naturalists and their biographies! I can't recommend this company enough ~ lots of field study equipment too. I once ordered some things at the last minute before Christmas and they were so helpful in getting my order to me in time.
Speaking of naturalists, has anyone ever heard of naturalist intelligence? I saw this book Naturalist Intelligence: Science in the Schoolyard in which is discussed Howard Gardner, who developed the theory of multiple intellegences. Apparently he identified an eighth "naturalist" intelligence. I found more info. on his theories and all 8 intelligences here. Here's a quote:
"The naturalist intelligence refers to the ability to recognize and classify plants, minerals, and animals, including rocks and grass and all variety of flora and fauna. The ability to recognize cultural artifacts like cars or sneakers may also depend on the naturalist intelligence. …(S)ome people from an early age are extremely good at recognizing and classifying artifacts. For example, we all know kids who, at 3 or 4, are better at recognizing dinosaurs than most adults."
This is all rambling (very early here, not a lot of coffee yet ) but I had never heard of any of this and found it all very interesting!
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lapazfarm
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Yes, I've heard of the naturalist intelligence. When I was teaching at a public charter school we were required to show how we taught to all of the intelligences in our lesson plans (this was a very progressive, excellent school, btw.). I think that is my strongest intellegence, personally.
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cathhomeschool
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Our boys enjoyed Luther Burbank: Nature's Helper, by Lillian J. Bragdon. It's OOP, but maybe your library carries it.
Have you studied Beatrix Potter yet? We're starting that unit now using Nothing is Impossible: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Beatrix Potter (by Alexandra Wallner).
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Dawn
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cathhomeschool wrote:
| Our boys enjoyed Luther Burbank: Nature's Helper, by Lillian J. Bragdon. It's OOP, but maybe your library carries it. |
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Yes, it does have it! Thanks, Janette.
cathhomeschool wrote:
| Have you studied Beatrix Potter yet? We're starting that unit now using Nothing is Impossible: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Beatrix Potter (by Alexandra Wallner). |
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It's so funny you should mention her. I was just brainstorming and looking in the library catalog this morning and I thought of her, as well as Celia Thaxter ...
Celia's Island Journal
... as well as the contemporary Marjolein Bastin:
View from a Sketchbook: Nature through the Eyes of Marjolein Bastin
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MacBeth
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Dawn wrote:
| (MacBeth, if you read this ~ when I introduced this idea to my boys, I told them I knew a real-life naturalist (you!) and they were so excited! ) |
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Well, I'm not such a well known naturalist  , but most of the Wild Monthly articles are autobiographical.
I know I need to write more, and I have two in the works, but this kitchen project (of which I am very very tired!!!) is still occupying my time. Soon!
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MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog 
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Dawn
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MacBeth wrote:
| I know I need to write more, and I have two in the works, but this kitchen project (of which I am very very tired!!!) is still occupying my time. Soon! |
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I hope that kitchen project finishes up soon, MacBeth ~ for your sake ~ and because those books will be awesome!! (How's that for a Massachusetts word?  )
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Dawn, mum to 3 boys
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Biographies of naturalists?
